Gov’t tops GDP outlay for infra spending

The Philippine government under President Rodrigo Duterte has allocated a bigger portion of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for infrastructure spending, compared with the average of the past six administrations in the last 50 years.

"We are pouring in 5.4 percent in comparison to just 2.6 percent of the average of the past six administrations in the last 50 years," said Build, Build, Build team chairperson Anna Mae You Lamentillo during the National Information Convention (NIC) in Davao City on Monday.

Lamentillo said the administration would spend PHP8.4 trillion in infrastructure in its six-year term, and this would be financed 80 percent by local borrowings.

In his 10-point socioeconomic agenda, Duterte aims to reduce Philippine poverty from 21.6 percent in 2015 to 13-15 percent by 2022.

Lamentilla said financing the speedy establishment of infrastructure and development of industries that would ease up the people's lives and boost economic growth is one of the big changes the government is making.

Among the life-changing infrastructure projects the administration hopes to make real is the Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3, which is aimed at decongesting EDSA traffic, especially on rush hours.

The Build, Build, Build Portal lists down high impact projects envisioned to raise the economy's productive capacity by creating jobs, increasing incomes, and strengthen the investment climate leading to sustained inclusive growth.

"It is a real-time tool where projects are monitored and tracked, with relevant information made available to everyone," Lamentillo said of the Build, Build, Build portal, where private contractors could see government projects they might be interested in joining.

Other infrastructure projects underway are the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway Project, which will decongest the McArthur Highway; the Central Luzon Link Expressway Phase 1, which will connect Tarlac to Cabanatuan; the Central Luzon Link Expressway Phase 2, which will connect San Jose to Nueva Ecjia; the Plaridel Bypass Road Project Phase 1, which will accommodate travelers heading to Balagtas, Guiguinto, Plaridel, Bustos, and San Rafael, Bulacan; the North Luzon East Expressway, which will allow a scenic view of North East Luzon;